Two new public opinion polls show that many Americans are critical of President Barack Obama's efforts to bolster the economy, and some are skeptical that Washington can get the country back on track.

A poll published Friday by the magazine National Journal and the Allstate Insurance company says 62 percent of those surveyed think the nation is on the wrong track. The data comes from interviews with 1,200 adults in late August, and it shows Mr. Obama's job approval rating fell a couple of points over the past several months to 46 percent.

The same study says Americans judge the economy by their personal situation, and 70 percent have had a friend or family member laid off since the recession began. Most respondents think the government should play a role in the economy, but many expressed doubts that Washington can deal effectively with such issues.

The findings are roughly in line with a survey published Thursday by Quinnipiac University. An expert who worked on the poll said voter pessimism about the economy shows no signs of abating.

That analysis is supported by a survey of economists by the Bloomberg financial news service, which says U.S. economic growth will slow down next year by 0.3 percent to just 2.5 percent.

The survey results are a worry for Mr. Obama as his Democratic Party allies in Congress face tough elections in November.